Africa Day 2023 Online Exhibition: The Ashanti Wars and the South African War

For Africa Day 2023, there will be looked at the similarities between the Ashanti Wars and the South African War.

The Ashanti Wars of 1896 and 1900 was a significant event in the history of the British colonialism in Africa. It was fought between the Ashanti Empire (today Ghana) and the British Empire. The Ashanti Empire was one of the most powerful states in West Africa during the late 19th century, and the war was a result of British attempts to expand their colonial territory in the region. The war has similarities with the South African War of 1899-1902, which was fought between the British and the Boer Republics in South Africa. Both wars were fought for control of resources, especially gold and territory and were driven by the expansionist policies of the British Empire.

The Ashanti War of 1896 was sparked by the actions of the Ashanti king, Prempeh I, who was resisting British attempts to extend their control over the Gold Coast region. During the “scramble for Africa”, different European powers were in competition to colonise Africa. The British had already established a protectorate over the coastal areas, but the Ashanti Empire remained independent in the interior. After the 1896 expedition led by Baden-Powell (who was later involved in the siege of Mafeking during the SA War), the Ashanti Empire came under British control.

In 1900, the British demanded that the Ashanti king surrender the sacred Golden Stool, which was believed to hold the spiritual essence of the Ashanti people. The demand was seen as an insult by the Ashanti people and conflict broke out. The Ashanti forces initially achieved some success against the British, but they were eventually defeated due to the superior firepower and technology of the British army. The Ashanti king was captured and exiled to the Seychelles, and the Golden Stool was seized by the British. The war was a significant victory for the British, as it allowed them to extend their control over the entire Gold Coast region.

The Ashanti War of 1896 and 1900 can be compared to the South African War of 1899-1902, which was also fought for territorial domination and control of resources, especially gold. The South African War was fought between the British and the Boer Republics in South Africa, and it was driven by the British attempts to control the resources and territory of the region. The SA War was a much larger and deadlier war than the Ashanti wars. The SA war entailed the use of scorched earth tactics, whereby Boer farmsteads were burnt down and concentration camps were set up for the South African civilians (black and white). In the camps approximately 50 000 people lost their lives due to illness, the majority of whom were children under the age of 15. More than 20 000 British soldiers died (also mostly from illness) in South Africa. The Ashanti wars had far less casualties, resulting in the deaths of some 2 000 people.

Both the South African War and the Ashanti wars were characterised by the use of superior firepower and technology by the British, who also had a significant man-power advantage over the Boers. The war had a significant impact on both territories, as both became British colonies after the wars.